Slip pipe wrench with locking ring



Aug. 17, v1965 i w. MIRANDA 3,200,677

SLIP PIPE WRENCH WITH LOCKING RING Filed Nov. 2o, 196s 23 WILLIAM MIRANDA ,7 INVENTOR ATTRNFV v United States Patent O 3,200,677 SL11 PIPE WRENCH WITH LOCKING RING William Miranda, Welch Road, Ringwood, NJ. Filed Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 325,060 1 Claim. (Cl. 81-160) The invention herein relates to a slip pipe wrench with locking ring and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a wrench having an elongated handle provided with an enlarged portion at its upper end upon which is mounted a fixed jaw. A pair of ears extend rearwardly from the handle at a distance downwardly from the enlarged portion whereby to provide a space for a locking ring. A movable jaw is provided with a shank which extends freely through the enlarged portion and thence through the locking ring and finally between the ears. A spring pressed button is mounted in the handle to extend into the space between the ears and the enlarged portion and is adapted to extend between vertical ridges provided in the locking ring. The locking ring is, in turn, provided with a pair of integrally formed tabs for moving the same and is interiorly threaded to engage racks formed on each side of the shank of the movable jaw member. The interior threads of the locking ring are broken away at diametrically opposed areas whereby in one position the shank and its attached racks may freely move through the ring while at other times, upon manipulation of the locking ring, the teeth of the racks may be lockingly engaged by the ring to maintain the fixed and movable jaws at a desired distance apart. The vertical ridges in the ring provide for minute adjustments as will be brought out in the annexed specification.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a Wrench of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet eective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel locking ring forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character `set forth, novel means for providing minute adjustments in the aforesaid locking ring.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel movable jaw retaining means forming a part of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a locking ring having means for selectively locking a movable jaw shank therein or allowing the same free passage therethrough.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing the fixed and movable jaws of the same in closed and locked position,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE l but illustrating the jaws of the wrench in opened and unlocked condition,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and

Patented Aug. 17, 1965 ice FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but taken substantially along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a wrench of the character set -forth having an elongated handle 10 provided with an enlarged head 11 formed integrally with the upper end portion thereof and an integrally formed pair of ears 12 downwardly spaced therefrom to form a recess 13 therebetween. A fixed jaw member 14 is secured atop the enlarged head 11.

Extending freely through the head 11 is the shank 15 of a movable jaw 16.

The shank 15 is provided on its forward and rear faces with racks 17 and a normally outwardly urged spring pin 18 is mounted in the handle 10 centrally in the recess 13. A lock ring is generally indicated at 19 and is internally threaded, as indicated at 20, to engage the teeth of the racks 1'7. The threads are broken away at diametrically opposed areas 21 and it will be noted that the cross sectional area of the shank 15 is such that it presents substantially flat channeled sides.

In operation, it will be apparent that to quickly move the movable jaw 16 away from the fixed jaw 14, it is only necessary to turn the lock ring by means of its integrally affixed ears 22 to the position shown in FIG- URE 4 wherein the racks 17 are in registry with the cutaway or recessed portions 21 of the threads 2t). Thus it is possible to move the shank 15 freely upwardly and downwardly so that the jaw 16 may be adjusted to relative positions with the fixed jaw 14. When the desired position has been reached in this manner, the lock ring 19 may then be turned by the ears 22 so that the threaded portions 20 thereof may engage with the racks 17 thus affording a fine adjustment. It will be noted that the lock ring 19 is provided with a series of vertically extending grooves 23 and it will be apparent that when the fine adjustment is attained as above set forth, the spring pressed pin 18 will engage in the nearest groove 23 to maintain the ring in such position.

A screw 24 is removably mounted in the lower portion of the outer face of the shank 15 and its head normally prevents the shank 15 fro-m moving upwardly through the lock ring 19. When, however, it is desired to disassemble the wrench, the screw 24: may be removed whereupon the shank 15 may move freely and completely through the ring 19 and head 11.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising an elongated handle, a head formed integrally at the upper end of said handle, a pair of ears integrally formed on said handle in spaced relation below said head, a fixed jaw mounted on said head, a movable jaw having a vertical shank extending freely through said head and between said ears, a rotatable lock ring positioned 4between said head andk said ears and surrounding said shank, said shank being generally rectangular in cross-section and having a rack formed in each of the forward and rear surfaces thereof, the inner periphery of said ring being provided with threads which are adapted to engage the teeth of said racks to lock said movable jaw in adjusted positionfsaid threads being provided with diametrically opposed cutout vportions of slightly greater length than the Width of said Yrack Whichiare adapted to be brought into register with said rack by the rotating of said ring to permit free movement of said shank through said ring, the outer periphery of said ring being provided with vertically extending grooves, and said handle having a spring pressed plunger mounted therein which is adapted to engage said grooves to yieldingly maintain said ring 1 in adjusted position.

627,950 6/99 1,059,224- 4/13 1,367,407 2/21 1,388,005 8/21 l,990,l37 s 2/35 Zeiglervv `81--159 Sebastian 81-160 X McClurkin 81-167 X Smith Sal-160 Schruob Y 81160 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primaly Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

